THE PRESIDENTS PART IN WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE EXHIBIT
In visiting this exhibit, you will learn about Woodrow Wilson and his role in women’s suffrage. Wilson was the 28th President of the United States of America, and also the President during the women’s suffrage movement, in addition to helping with the establishment of the 19th amendment to the constitution. His opinion on the subject of women’s suffrage changed from confused, to opposing, and to supporting.
In early 1917, the “Silent Sentinels”, a small but determined group of militant suffragists led by Alice Paul, a combative and candid leader in the woman’s suffrage movement, picketed the White House urging Woodrow Wilson to support a constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote. Wilson seemed puzzled by the picketers. He just tipped his hat and smiled at the picketers. He invited them in for coffee, but after a while his attitude began to change. In the words of Historian Victoria Bissell Brown, “Wilson did not think women should be chaining themselves to the White House fence… His reaction was not very gentlemanly, and not very democratic.”
In late June 1917, six women were arrested, eleven more were jailed on July 4, a third group was taken into custody ten days later, and all the women were charged with "obstructing traffic." The protesters were sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse where they then suffered beatings, forced feeding, and contaminated conditions. Nevertheless, the pickets - and the arrests - continued. In August, brawls broke out right in front of the White House gates. For three days suffragists were dragged, punched and choked by angry crowds. City police stood by, refusing to interfere.
After decades of suffrage movements, Wilson began changing his position again, but the only occurrence that would bring the President fully behind the Suffragists efforts for a federal amendment for women’s rights would be a war. According to Ronald Schaffer - another Historian - “Wilson wants women’s votes for a number of reasons. He wants as much support for the war as he can get, half of the American population.”
Wilson was repelled by the aggressive suffragists outside his gate. He saw their methods as insulting, unfeminine, and unpatriotic. However, when Carrie Chapman Catt, an incredible speaker and a strong influence in the women’s suffrage movement, made a personal plea to the President, Wilson finally spoke out in favor of the suffrage movement, even though the senate rejected women’s suffrage by two votes. The 19th amendment officially passed in 1920.
This is a photograph of women suffragists wearing suffrage sashes showing their support with signs at a city street corner. Their signs read “Vote against Wilson He Opposes National Suffrage”, “Wilson is Against Women”, “Why Does Wilson Seek Votes from Women When He Opposes Votes for Women”, and “President Wilson How Long Do You Advise Us to Wait?” On the far right side of the picture you can see Police on horseback and on foot.